Delayed-action release device



Patented Feb. 5, 1946 UNITED" STATES PA ENT foFnc-E DELAYED-ACTION RELEASE DEVICE Harry C. Grant, Jr., New York, N. Y., and Walter M. Haessler, Jersey City, N. 'J., assignors to Specialties Development Corporation, Bloomfield, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application October 20, 1942 Serial No. 462,678

19 Claims This invention relates to the dispensing of high pressure fluid media, and more particularly to a release device adapted to be used in connection with a container for ahigh pressure flui medium.

Under certain conditions, it becomes necessary that there be a predetermined interval between the time the device for the release of the fluid medium is operated and the actual discharge of the medium. An object of the present invention is to provide a release device for a container'storing a high pressure fluid medium, which upon actuation will release the fluid pressure medium in the con tainer after a predetermined interval of time.

' Another object is to provide a release device which is'operable substantially by the pressure of the fluid medium which it is adapted to release.

Another object is to providea fluid pressure operated delayed action mechanism.

Another object is to provide a'release device which is operable by means of a differential pressure mechanism.

Another object is to provide a release device which permits of the recharging of the container.

A further object is to provide a release device .which is rugged, simple in construction, and easily serviced.

Other and furtherobjects of the invention'will one skilled in the art upon employment of the;

invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and dev the container! ll.

tainer I0 is shown providedwith a neck portion II which is interiorly threaded at l2 to receive a correspondingly shaped and threaded lower or inlet portion I4 of a valve body IE or the like. a

The body ii, in addition to the inlet portion H,

.is formed with alateral outlet portion l5,'a laterallcharging portion l1, and an upper control portion [8. The outlet and the charging portions communicate with one another by way ofan .sage2l. The vertical passage 22 has an enlarged bore 23 at the inlet portion I4 adapted to receive, forsecurementtherein, the upper portionof an auxiliary or secondary container 24 forstoring a high pressure fluid medium, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

The container 24 is preferably. tubular in form and has a small capacity as compared to that of Its lower end may be supported with respectto the container 10, preferably, by

means shown in Figure 4, comprising a tubular sleeve 25 slidably fitting over the lower portion of tween the sleeveand a collar 21 on the container the container 24, and va springili disposed bemeans are adapted to form a shock and vibrationabsorbing support for the tubular container The outlet portion I6 is provided with a recess 28 forming ashoulder 29, and an outlet plug 3| is threadedly secured into the recess 28, adapted v 32 adjacentthe'shoulder 29.

scription and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a release device and a container (shown in part) in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 on Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the lower portion of the container of Figure 1, illustrating a detail shown in construction.

1 Figures 5 and 6 are detail sectional views taken on the lines 5 5 and G6 of'Figure 1 respec tively.

"sage' 2| to theatmosphere. 40..

to hold inplace a frangible outlet or closure disc The disc 32 is disposed between washer type gaskets 3 3 and 3 ,4, respectiveiy, and is adapted to close off the pas- The plug 3| has an axial passage 35 substantially in alignment with the passage 2| which serves as an outlet when the disc 32 has been apertured. a

' The charging portion ll, too, has a recess asat 36, into which is threaded a charging plug 31 provided with a charging passage 38 and a reduced end portion 4|. .A second frangible 'disc 49- is heldby the plug 3l against a shoulder" formed I by the recess 36. A washer type gasket .43, be-

A charging valve assembly also is threaded into the'recess 36 exteriorly of the plug 31. The assembly comprises a body 45 having a reduced and threaded portion 45 disposedin the recess we g n or n 41 him marbeor an hexagonal nut form, and a reduced connecting portion 48 threaded on the outside to facilitate making a charging connection. The body 45 has an axially extending charging passage 5| which is enlarged to form a valve chamber 52.

A seat type check valve 53 is disposed inthe valve chamber for reciprocal ;movemen-t therein and isadapt'ed, t'o'beurg'ed by fluid-pressure onto a valve seat 54 formed in the body 45 and surrounding the passage 5| adjacent the valve cham- F ber 52. A valve retainer, 1 preferably in the form of a split snap ring 55 may be provided-infidevalve chamber, so that the chargi-n gassembly fl may be removed from the-recess tfi-"asa uni't,

This construction also assures that the valve is not able to close the charging passage 38 during charging, as will appear more clearly when the operation of the device is ueseribeu. A sealing gasket 40 is disposed between body 45 and the charging portion 11. r I H pro ection 56 on the vlaflv, in eooperatiph thth' corresponding "recess 51 rattle-passage 5'1, :to guide the valve during its -'-movem'ents from and to its seat. o

In Figure 1, th ttsseihbiy "at shown "s'efaled 'bya sealing captt which'is threaded over the connecting portion '48 and which carries a sealing sk'et fiifadapted "to tightly seal the'chargi'ng passageil.

T e p a' sag'etl 'i's er'i'laige'd adjacent the shoulue'r 42',"at' the intersection with pas age '22; to prov e a -chariiber 19 in which a piston 20 is "slidaibly mounted for {actuatin a hollow tubular cutterst disposed in the passag'ezl and adapted to pieiCethe' disc fAS'pring 3'0, abutting the pistonizn "at one end, and a wall of the-chamber to at the "other seats disposed the chamber le to urge t e cutter-"39 awa the disc '32.

V The veitiail passage 22 "in the Control portion 118, isei'ilargd to "provide a 'IebSS 62 which is threaded to reeeive fa flow "throttling or control- --1 ihg-membe'r;63, preferably; such as a plug hav'ing "thread whteh "do not aiTord a complete seal. The raceset is elose dfofi by a third frangible losure "di'scfl which rests on "a S'alifig gasket t5 and v held in place by"a"bus'hi hg member 6'6 "and a project therethrough which isadapted to operate a cutt'er *12 *for'pierci-ng the disc 64. A'sp'ring its --disho's u about the cutter 12 m the "bushing tnemb'er es ehdebuttihg a flange it on the body --o'r-theeutt rihheaapteuto urge thecutter'aw'ay 5 ftro the disc t4. Y The flange '11: hearse-"garnet the inside-of the 'apertured'eap 'me'mber' fi l.

The actuating knob portion 1| or the cutter protected {from u desired "tampering by a proteotive cap -15 which "is 'thi'ea'dedly secured 'o'ver sage I extending through the body 15, as shown broken linesin' Figure '1, and as shown in cross "section in Figure 5 in the 'form of 'a groove TeX-V "tending through the threa'dsot the body. "A fluid flow connection from the container ["0 "to the pa'ssage 21 adjacent the outlet'portion it ie-provided port *B-I (Figures zehd 3) 'comprfi'ingjafvertical passage Ta an'd a horizontal assage 19. The'p'a'ssage T9 termihates'et the surf-ape or t e s ulder 29, a.'n'd ts nohnan seared toy thegas'kettfl.

tainer I0 is fully charged and the deviceois ready for operation to release the fluid medium. When such a release is desired, the protective cap 15' is removed and the knob portion H depressed by hand orbystrileing it with or against a hard obiect. A's the' knbb portion H is depressed, the

cutter 1.2 penetrates the disc 64 and then is re-' "tracted to its b'iiginal position by action of the spring 5-13. Fluid medium is now enabled to escape from the auxiliary container 24 at a restricted the predetermined rate by way 'jof f Das- "sage' 21'pa'st the threafdsoi then-ow regulat ng and'cohtrolhng-rheihber tea-nu out 'throughthe pierced disc 54 anirtlfe aperture 58. *I'he extent to which the controlling member 63 is s'orewed down, determines the rate "at which the "fluid --thedmm isabiet esoape past-the threads. I As thereis'horht iiyan-equuibnumon the disc he, one to the eireot orthe pressure fluid "hithe auxiliary container acting throughthe "chamber is on one side'ahd the-pressure fiufd inthe main eohtaiher it acting through the ort A,"the'valve "chamber 5'2 "in-"communication therewith, and the "passage at, on "the otherfsi'oe r fthoj'dise ts, the efiiui; to 'theat'mosphere ofthe "fltii'd medium from the -'o'ohtainer 24gwi1-1' cause a pressure difierential tofbe estabhshedwithrespehtto .the drsc l'e, and-'Wiil eventually "lead to its burstiiigdue "to "the prevalence of the pressure on the side thereof adjacent the plug 31, effective from the container luthrou h-port A. r he theutso ta hursts, the fluid pressure medium from "the container 'flrrushe's into the chamber 19 and drives the piston 20,, "aiid with it the c tter "39, toward the right to puncture the outletursc 32. The medium orn theihaih con- "taihe ow pas es out bywa of the tubular cutter se thibugh the discharge passage 35. I It will be apparent that a predete'fm'ineil'tiine ihtervarmay thusbebbtained between the actuatioh or the; cutter 1 2 and th actual discharge rrom thehram container by retarding the'esta'b- Tishnrent f 'the'diffriitiil'pressure condition 2 tool "(not illustrated) in the'fo'rm' ora'iug wreheh,

I which is adapted to coact withftherec'esse's '80 is used to effect a-hackingoh or the plug '31 by about half a turn. {Ihelug wrench is provided with a connection 'l'eading-to'a'pre'ssure gauge (not "showm emu fth eonheetioh is ada ted to "be applied the discharge-'orbliitlt portion rs tofo'rm a i'ehhpreor hressure ehamberiwith the portion l6 and the recess 23. V t

"@he tap outwith-its "gasket 5*! isth'en removed ahli a prs'silie fluid 'supply c'tiiihetioh made "to the connecting portionv 48, Pressure fluid is then 5 "supplied slowly pastthe check valve 53 which is now driven back and is supported in the valve chamber 52 by the ring 55. The pressurefluid enters through the passages 11 and 16 of the port A into the cylinder I0, out of the cylinder l0, through passages 18 and 79 of the port B, past the gasket 34, through passage 2! into the auxiliary container 24 by way of the passage 22,

Since the pressure fluid must enter the container Iii before it can reach the cylinder 24, the gauge associated with the charging-fixture and in connection with the outlet portion l6 indicates the completeness-of the charg ofboth the containers I and 24. This provision also serves to indicate that the pressure conditions are the same in both containers. As the charging is completed, the plug 3| is screwed down tightl and the charging fixture is" removed from the portion l8. Then the supply is disconnected from the connecting portion 48, and the check valve 53 is driven back on its seat '54 by the fluid pressure in the container In which acts through the port A in communication with the chamber 52. The final seal against leakage isobtained by reinstalling the cap 58 and the gasket 6| over the connecting portion 48. 7

By screwing down the plug 3| and sealing the passage 19, the fluid flow connection between the two containers l0 and 24 is sealed off, and the space including the container 24, thepassage 22 and the recess 62 is tightly sealed therefrom. A balanced pressure condition is thus reestablished on the two sides of the disc 49, each side being exposed separately and independently to the fluid pressure of the two containers, respectively. The time required for the operation between the piercing of the disc 64 and the escape of the pressure fluid out of the discharg portion I6 for the construction shown here, is usually about two minutes, depending on the ambient temperature which determines the pressure values.

It will be noted that the area of each of the discs 64 and 32, which is exposed to bursting action by pressure is smaller than that of the tical design, will burst, accordingly, at a pressure differential substantially less than the value of the pressure to which discs 64 and 32 are normally exposed.

As the container and the entire assembly may be subject to vibration and shock, the provision of the spring urged slidable sleeve over the free end of the auxiliary container 24 insures that the auxiliary container is adequately supported at both ends, and that any shocks transmitted by the body of the main container in are received and dampened by the sleeve and the spring before they reach the auxiliary cylinder. The possibilty of damage thereby to the secondary container, which may result in leakage of pressure fluid therefrom with resultant inoperativeness of the device as a Whole, is thus greatly minimized.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illusscribed, and all statements or "the'scope'of the invention which, as a matter of languaga'might be said to fall therebetween.

1-. In combination, a. container for storing a fluid'medium under pressure; a closure for said container; means, for unclosing said closure adapted to be operated by the fluid pressure or" the medium in saidcontainer; means preventing access of the fluid medium in said container to said unclosing means; an independent source of a fluid pressure medium normally closed and in fluid flow communication withsaid preventing means; and means to release the fluid pressure medium from said source,whereby upon release thereof said preventing means is adapted to become ineffective and said closure is adapted to be unclosed by said unclosing means.

2. In combination, a container for storing a fluid medium under pressure; a frangible disc closure for. said container; cutter means for-runclosing said disc closure operable by the pressure of the fluid in said container; a frangible disc preventing access of the fluid medium in said container to said cutter means, saiddisc being exposed tosaid-fluid medium on'one side thereof; an independent source of a fluid pres,

sure medium normally closed and in fluid flow communication with the other side of said disc; and means to release the fluid pressure medium from said source, whereby upon release thereof said disc is adapted to be rendered ineffective by the pressure of the fluid medium in said container and said cutter'means is operated to unclose said. frangible disc closure.

3. In combination, a container for storing a fluid medium under pressure; a frangible disc closure for said container; cutter meansfor unclosing said disc closure operable by the pressure of the fluid in said container; a frangible disc preventing access of the fluid medium in said container to said cutter means, said disc being exposed to said fluid medium on one side thereof;

' anindependent source of a fluid pressure medium normally closed and in fluid flow communication disc 49 which, although all the discs are of iden-' with the other Side of said disc. w er y. a

anced pressure condition is established on 1 said disc; and means to release the fluid pressure medium from said source, whereby upon release thereof said balanced pressure condition is upset and said disc is adapted tobe rendered ineffective by the pressure of the fluid medium in said container and said cutter means is operated to unclose said frangible disc closure.

4. In combination, a container for storing a fluid medium under pressure; a closure for said container; means for. unclosing said closure adapted to be operated by the fluid pressure of the medium in said container; means preventing access of the fluid medium in said container to said unclosing means; an independent source of a fluid pressure medium normally closed andin fluid flow communication with said preventing means; means to release the fluid pressure medium from said source; and adjustable fluid flow throttle means associated with said releasing means, whereby upon] release of said source'said.

preventing means is adapted to become ineffective and said closure is adapted to be unclosed by said unclosing means after a predetermined time interval after said release. a

5. In combination, a container for storing a fluid medium under pressure; afrangible disc closure for said container; cutter means for unclosing said disc closure operable by the pressure of the fluid in said container; 9. frangible second source of fluid pressure medium in communication with said other side of said second named disc; a third disc for closing said outlet connection; a fluid flow throttling member in said outlet connection; and means to unclose said third named disc.

15. For use with a container adapted for storing a fluid pressure medium; a device having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, a charging portion and a control portion; a first flow connection for'discharging from said inlet portion to said outlet portion; a second flow connection from said inlet portion to said control portion adapted for connection to an auxiliary source of a fluid pressure medium; a third connection for charging the container and the auxiliary source extending from said charging portion to said inlet portion and from said inlet portion to said second connection; a first disc for closing said discharge connection; a sealing member for closing said third connection between the container and the auxiliary source operatively associated with said first disc;

a valve closing said charging connection at the charging portion; a second disc for closing said second connection at the control portion; a third disc for interrupting said discharge connection, one side thereof adapted to be exposed to fluid pressure from the container and its other side to fluid pressure from the auxiliary source; a piston cutter for unclosing said first disc adapted to be operated by fluid pressure acting through said first connection normally prevented from being acted on by fluid pressure by said third disc; a fluid flow throttling member in said second connection in said control portion; and means to unclose said second disc.

16. In combination, a container for storing a fluid medium under pressure; valve means on said container; closure means in said valve means; movable means in said valve means for unclosing said closure means; means associated with said valve means for conditioning said unclosing means for operation thereof; means delaying said unclosing means from becoming operative, associated with said conditioning means, whereby, upon operation of said conditioning means, said closure means is adapted to be unclosed after a predetermined time interval.

17. In combination, a container for storing fluid pressure medium; a closure for said container; pressure operable means for rendering said closure ineffective; partition means for preventing operation of said pressure operable means; a second container for a second fluid pressure medium normall confined and in fluid flow communication with said partition means; and means for releasing said second fluid pressure medium whereby upon release thereof, said partition means is rendered ineifective and said pressure operable means is operated.

18. In combination, a container for storing fluid pressure medium; closure means for said container and adapted to be rendered ineffective by the pressure medium acting on one side of said closure means; a second container for a second fluid pressure medium normally confined and in fluid flow communication with said closure means and acting on the other side of said closure means to maintain the latter efiective; means for releasing said second fluid pressure means whereby to render said closure means ineffective; and fluid flow throttle means associated with said releasing means whereby upon release of said econd fluid pressure medium, to extend the effectiveness of said closure means for a predeter-,

mined interval after release of said second fluid pressure medium.

19. In combination, a container for storing a fluid medium under pressure; valve means for said container; a frangible disc closure in said valve means adapted to be rendered inefiective by the pressure of the fluid in said container acting on one side thereof; a second container for a second fluid pressure medium normally confined and in fluid flow communication with the other side of said disc closure to maintain the latter effective; and means to release said second fluid pressure medium, whereby upon release thereof 'said disc closure is rendered ineffective by said first mentioned fluid medium.

HARRY C. GRANT, JR. WALTER M. HAESSLER. 

